What does Canada sound like? It is incredible that no matter how hard Canadians try to bust into the American music scene, by recording in America with American musicians, they still sound Canadian. And when it comes to a true Canadian singer/songwriter the product is a musical maple leaf riding on a beaver, who just ate back bacon covered in maple syrup that he bought for a few loonies. Joel Kroeker is no exception. The music production is well strung together and has a really easy feeling to it with a shot of bluesy rock.

I saw Kroeker at the Home County Folk Festival in Victoria Park this past summer, as he serenaded a mobbing crowd with no words left to speak, as Kroeker paved the way for guitar great, Harry Manx. Kroeker is definitely a live performer and so adorned with musical talent that it really is sickening. As a musician I can only be jealous of someone who can play live, hold notes for minutes at a time and never drop out of key. Lets just say Joel Kroeker stole my envy.

Closer to the Flame is Joel Kroeker's 2007 album release and having hooked up his Independent label True North Records with Universal, you can expect to be hearing a lot of Kroeker soon. This is a solid album, very earthy, very spiritual and poetic laced with ballad style pieces laced with some “gospel-like” harmonies. If you like music made for the quality of being music that you can sit and sway to and throw in the occasional body rock Closer to the Flame is a must have.

Although I did not come across a song that I need to listen to the rest of my life, the album itself is something that I can listen to over and over again. For genre sake, I would toss this in the contemporary folk rock category, your parents would really dig it, and you could agree on it, unlike the Babara Streisand, Roch Voisine and Loverboy they have been listening to.

Joel Kroeker has well established himself all across the globe having played just about everywhere in the last five or so years. You may have heard some of his songs of his last album Melodrama released in 2003, “Goodbye Jane” and my personal favourite Kroeker tune, “The Wind.” To have a listen to Joel Kroeker check out myspace.com/joelkroeker or his website joelkroeker.com and decide for yourself.